Classical Music Forms and Concertos

Questions and Answers

What is a concerto?

a large-scale work for an instrumental soloist and orchestra

What habits of Beethoven allowed a record of his struggle with musical material?

carrying musical sketchbooks

Which of the following statements is not true?

In a theme and variations movement, a basic musical idea is repeated over and over and is changed each time.

Each variation in a theme and variations form movement is unique and may differ in mood from the theme.

The form called theme and variations is widely used in the classical period, either as an independent piece or as one movement of a symphony, sonata, or string quartet.

The first movement of Haydn's Surprise symphony is in theme and variations form. (correct)

How many string quartets and symphonies did Haydn compose?

68 string quartets and 104 symphonies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true?

The opening movement of a classical symphony is almost always slow and in ABA form. Signup and view all the answers

What was the favored solo instrument in the classical concerto?

piano Signup and view all the answers

What creates harmonic tension in the exposition of a sonata form movement?

the conflict of tonalities between the first and second themes Signup and view all the answers

Which movement in a symphony is most often lyrical and slow?

second Signup and view all the answers

What does Haydn's contract of employment show about his status?

he was considered a skilled servant Signup and view all the answers

How did Mozart's trip to Italy influence him?

enabled him to study and master the Italian operatic style Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true about Mozart?

In his later years, Mozart was financially well off, widely acclaimed, and sought after by an adoring public. Signup and view all the answers

What are short musical ideas or fragments of themes developed within a composition called?

motives Signup and view all the answers

A ______ is a musical composition that is usually light in mood and meant for evening entertainment.

serenade Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true regarding classical concertos?

A typical sequence of movements in a classical concerto is fast, slow, dance-related, fast. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the minuet?

Quick, lively tempo Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following techniques did Beethoven not use to unify contrasting movements?

Quoting a theme from one movement in a later movement. Signup and view all the answers

In which aspects was Beethoven more extensive and explicit compared to earlier composers?

dynamics, expressive indications, and tempos Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is not true of the late eighteenth-century fortepiano?

It weighed the same as the modern piano. Signup and view all the answers

What typically characterizes a string quartet?

usually consists of four movements, is the most important form in classical chamber music, and is written for two violins, viola, and cello Signup and view all the answers

The classical concerto differs from the symphony in that it does not have a _____ movement.

minuet or scherzo Signup and view all the answers

What are the titles of Haydn's two popular oratorios?

The Seasons and The Creation Signup and view all the answers

What is a brilliant solo section in a concerto designed to display the performer's virtuosity?

a cadenza Signup and view all the answers

In many of Beethoven's works, there is a _____ movement instead of the minuet.

scherzo Signup and view all the answers

What is the usual order of movements in a classical string quartet?

fast, slow, minuet (or scherzo), fast Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes chamber music in comparison to symphony or concerto?

is performed by one player per part Signup and view all the answers

What does the classical string quartet consist of?

two violins, viola, and cello Signup and view all the answers

In Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, how does the string bass part sound?

sounds an octave lower than the cello part Signup and view all the answers

What describes Beethoven's abilities as a pianist and his education?

was a brilliant pianist, was self-educated and had read widely, but was weak in elementary arithmetic, and began to feel the first symptoms of deafness in his twenty-ninth year Signup and view all the answers

How is unity achieved in the classical symphony?

by the use of the same key in three of its four movements Signup and view all the answers

What is a symphony?

sonata for orchestra Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the closing section in the recapitulation of a sonata-form movement?

it is in the tonic key Signup and view all the answers

What is a modulation from the home key to a new key in the exposition of a sonata form movement called?

bridge Signup and view all the answers

How can the minuet be outlined?

ABA Signup and view all the answers

Where was Mozart born?

Salzburg, Austria Signup and view all the answers

When did the minuet first appear?

around 1650 as a dance at the court of Louis XIV of France Signup and view all the answers

What did the typical orchestra of the classical period consist of?

strings, pairs of woodwinds, horns, trumpets, and timpani Signup and view all the answers

What did Beethoven expand significantly in a sonata-form movement?

development Signup and view all the answers

Why is the return of the main theme in rondo form significant?

because it is usually in the tonic key Signup and view all the answers

What is the second movement of Haydn's Surprise symphony characterized by?

theme-and-variations form Signup and view all the answers

What form does the minuet and trio movement of a classical symphony typically have?

ABA Signup and view all the answers

Sonata form is frequently used as the form for which movement of a multimovement work?

first Signup and view all the answers

What usually patterns after a dance in the movement of a sonata-type composition?

third Signup and view all the answers

Which family did Haydn have a fruitful relationship with in his career?

Esterhazy Signup and view all the answers

Theme-and-variations form may be schematically outlined as ___.

AA'A"A"A" Signup and view all the answers

Along with his symphonies, what works are considered Haydn's most important?

string quartets Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true?

Political and economic power shifted during the classical period from the middle class to the aristocracy and the church. Signup and view all the answers

At the end of a classical exposition, what typically indicates returning to the beginning of the section?

repeat sign Signup and view all the answers

Whose deeds did Beethoven's Third Symphony originally commemorate?

Napoleon Bonaparte Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following elements is usually not changed in varying the theme in theme and variations form?

Length Signup and view all the answers

How is a pause in the score of a concerto indicated?

fermata Signup and view all the answers

What is considered Beethoven's greatest liturgical music?

Missa Solemnis Signup and view all the answers

Where was Joseph Haydn content to spend most of his life?

serving as a wealthy aristocratic family Signup and view all the answers

How did composers in the classical period reflect middle-class tastes?

by flavoring their serious compositions with folk and popular music Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true of the music of the classical period?

The basso continuo was the nucleus of the instrumental ensemble. Signup and view all the answers

What is the usual position of the minuet in a classical symphony?

third Signup and view all the answers

Who finished Mozart's Requiem?

one of his pupils Signup and view all the answers

Unlike the other movements in the symphony, which movement is generally not in the tonic key?

second Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true?

The second theme returns in the recapitulation of a sonata form movement in an exact repetition of its statement in the exposition. Signup and view all the answers

By the age of six, what could Mozart do?

play the harpsichord and violin, improvise fugues and write minuets, and read music perfectly at sight Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of Haydn and Mozart's relationship in Vienna?

became close friends Signup and view all the answers

What is the choral finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony based on?

Schiller's Ode to Joy Signup and view all the answers

Who conducted the public concerts presented by the Concert des Amateurs in Paris in the 1770s?

The Chevalier De Saint-Georges Signup and view all the answers

Which symphonic movement is usually lacking in the concerto?

minuet or scherzo Signup and view all the answers

Who is Don Giovanni in Mozart's opera?

the legendary Spanish lover Signup and view all the answers

What is another common rondo pattern?

ABACABA Signup and view all the answers

In Beethoven's music, how is the coda often characterized?

often expanded and serves to develop themes further Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not true of the minuet movement?

The character of the minuet is best described as brisk and lively. Signup and view all the answers

What is the usual order of movements in a classical symphony?

fast, slow, dance-related, fast Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main sections of a sonata-form movement often followed by?

coda Signup and view all the answers

What is a transitional passage leading to a contrasting section called?

bridge Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Beethoven's only opera?

Fidelio Signup and view all the answers

What did comic operas sometimes do in the classical period?

ridiculed the aristocracy Signup and view all the answers

What is the schematic outline of the rondo?

ABACABA Signup and view all the answers

What did Beethoven's late works include?

piano sonatas, string quartets, the Ninth Symphony Signup and view all the answers

What does the slow movement of a classical symphony generally not have?

is generally not in the tonic key Signup and view all the answers

How did political and economic power shift in the classical period?

to the middle class from the aristocracy and the church Signup and view all the answers

How did composers reflect middle-class tastes in their music?

by flavoring their serious compositions with folk and popular music, writing comic operas that sometimes ridiculed the aristocracy, and writing dance music for public balls Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is false regarding the classical orchestra?

Trombones were commonly included. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Concertos and Compositions

A concerto features an instrumental soloist alongside an orchestra and consists of multiple movements.
Beethoven meticulously documented his musical ideas in sketchbooks, showcasing his dedication to the craft.
The classical concerto typically favors the piano as the solo instrument.

Classical Forms and Structures

The theme and variations form allows for each variation to differ in mood, while retaining the original theme. Haydn's Surprise Symphony's first movement is not in this form.
The minuet and trio is characterized as a dance in ABA form, often serving as the third movement in classical symphonies.
Sonata form is frequently employed for the initial movement of multimovement works, and it includes sections like exposition, development, and recapitulation.
A cadenza, a significant solo section in concertos, allows performers to showcase their virtuosity.

Haydn and Mozart

Joseph Haydn contributed significantly to the classical repertoire, composed 68 string quartets and over 100 symphonies, and built a lasting relationship with the Esterházy family.
Mozart's operatic style was influenced by his trip to Italy, enhancing his skill and creativity.
Mozart's Requiem remained unfinished at his death and was completed by a pupil.

Beethoven's Innovations

Beethoven enhanced the dramatic quality of the development section in sonata-form movements and frequently expanded coda sections in his compositions.
His only opera, Fidelio, reflects a deep engagement with expressive themes and societal issues.
The Third Symphony was originally composed in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte, highlighting themes of heroism.

Classical Music Characteristics

Typical orchestras in the classical era consisted of strings, woodwinds, horns, trumpets, and timpani, but not trombones.
Chamber music is performed by a unique arrangement of players, typically one per part, differentiating it from larger symphonic works.
The classical period saw a blending of serious compositions with elements of folk and popular music, reflecting audience tastes.

Notable Musical Elements

Motives, or short musical ideas, serve as the basis for development in compositions, while harmonic tension in sonata form arises from contrasting themes.
The second movement of a symphony is often lyrical and usually not in the tonic key, differing from the opening movement.
The coda of a sonata-form piece concludes the work by returning to the initial thematic material.

Historical Context

The political and economic power during the classical period transitioned from the aristocracy to the middle class, influencing musical compositions.
Comic operas often satirized the aristocracy, demonstrating a shift in societal attitudes reflected in the arts.

General Observations

Variations in music often include changes in melody, harmony, rhythm, but the length of themes typically remains consistent.
The minuet, first emerging in courtiers around 1650, showcases a lithe form that maintained popularity throughout the classical period.
Beethoven's late works reflect his resilience and creativity, achieved despite the challenges of total deafness.

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Description

This quiz explores the key concepts related to concertos and classical music structures, including the roles of themes, variations, and the contributions of composers like Haydn and Mozart. Learn about sonata form, cadenza, and the minuet and trio as fundamental elements of classical music composition. Dive into the intricacies of musical structures that have shaped the genre.